Sessions & Events

MINI SESSION: Seismic Research Presentations by Younger Members

Tuesday, October 28, 2025  1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, M - Grand Ballroom West

ACI 341 will be regularly hosting mini-sessions at each convention aimed at providing an opportunity for graduate students and early career individuals to present their research. We are coordinating this effort with the other ACI seismic committees.

Learning Objectives:
(1) Report on state-of-the-art research conducted in the realm of seismic design;
(2) Support an exchange of ideas within the seismic engineering community ;
(3) Create an avenue for early career researchers to convey their work ;
(4) Prepare young professionals to engage in ACI committee activities.

This session has been approved by AIA and ICC for 1 PDH (0.1 CEU). Please note: You must attend the live session for the entire duration to receive credit. On-demand sessions do not qualify for PDH/CEU credit.

Retrofit of Seismically Deficient RC Columns using FRCM Jacketing

Presented By: Moustafa Mansour
Affiliation: University of British Columbia
Description: The study experimentally investigated the seismic behaviour of concrete columns retrofitted with Fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) jackets. The circular RC columns had a deficiency in their seismic reinforcement detailing in the plastic hinge region. The columns were retrofitted with either one or two FRCM layers installed in the plastic hinge region. The columns were subjected to quasi-static lateral cyclic loading, and the seismic performance was evaluated in terms of failure mode, load capacity, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation. The test results revealed that the FRCM jacket with one layer delayed the buckling of longitudinal rebars and enhanced the overall seismic response. The addition of a second FRCM layer allowed further improvement in the response as it prevented the buckling and resulted in a slower degradation rate. This study highlighted the progressive failure of the FRCM system and how this is associated with the seismic performance of the retrofitted columns.

Reassessing Existing Structures for Compliance with Updated Seismic Codes (A Rwandan Case Study)

Presented By: Eugene Uwiringiyimana
Affiliation: Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER)
Description: When seismic design codes are updated, many existing structures especially public buildings and big infrastructures remain unverified under the new standards. This raises serious safety concerns, particularly in regions with increased seismic risk. This study presents a technical assessment of an existing reinforced concrete hospital building in Kigali, Rwanda, in light of newly updated national seismic provisions (RS 106:2021), harmonized with Eurocode 8. Using site-specific soil investigation, structural audits, and modeling tools, the study evaluates the building’s capacity to resist seismic actions defined by the updated code. Although the structure met older standards, findings revealed that certain elements were inadequate under current seismic demands. The study emphasizes the need for mandatory assessments of critical structures such as hospitals, schools, and public service facilities following code revisions. Similar global experiences, like the 2017 seismic code update in Turkey and the tragic building failures during the 2023 earthquake, underline the urgency of proactive evaluations. This presentation aims to contribute to ongoing global discussions by providing practical insights into assessment methodologies, code-compliance verification, and response strategies for governments and engineers working in developing seismic regions.